News

Communicators

Grade 3 (Kensington) started the year as they meant to go on - developing their skills as communicators; learning more about one another and communicating who they are.

Exploring communication also helped to establish expectations for the classroom environment including the importance of using various forms of communication skills.

The students inquired into communication through art, involving several interesting field trips. A visit to Tate Britain focused on four specific pieces of sculpture. The students were asked to examine each piece and share their ideas of what the artist was trying to communicate through art. The children then looked around the gallery to find specific pieces that communicated something to them. "We were extremely impressed with the insightful observations and connections the students made on this trip. Particularly enthusiastic about observing a piece of performance art studying the human body in motion. The artist of this piece had runners running in intervals throughout the main hall of the gallery," explained teacher Julie Drew.

The group also visited the National Gallery and looked at the role of communication through drama by touring Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Students learned some of the history of theatre in England and this trip helped to inspire in-class drama activities.

For the final assessment of this unit, students were asked to choose an adult in the school and a need to communicate with that person. "The children were asked to communicate in two ways. The first form of communication was something they were comfortable with but for the second part they were challenged to communicate to their audience in a form that they do not regularly use. Students used a variety of communication forms including codes, poetry, painting, sculpture, photos, dance and drama," said teacher Selena Lynn.

< Back